How to Manage Stress

Video Transcript

"Wow, so there's no saber tooth tiger in the room, I have a problem to solve and here is my body gearing up as if I am going to be killed and eaten, by this tiger. So it is important to recognize the difference between real danger, physical danger, and the kind of danger that says I need to do something. I need to solve a problem I need to attend to something in order for life to continue as happily as it's possible to be. So I need to stop, well let’s have some basic rules, ok. Basic rules of stress management. If there is nothing to do, don't do anything. So if I am tight like this and there is nothing to use it on, I should stop. And I might have a tool such as the contingency sample that you have learned about to relax, to clear my mind and think about what is there to do. Second rule, action, plus relaxation equals lower stress, so is there a saber tooth tiger in the room, well it looks like an action time. Do I have to call somebody, make a decision, buy something, do some research to solve the problem, that's action. Do I have to say to somebody who is clicking their gum at the next desk, would you mind stopping because I can't concentrate, that's action. But what if the problem can't be solved by anything that I am aware of right now, I don't have an answer, I can't think of anything to do. I am completely be fuddled that's the relaxation part. If I can't think of anything to do, rather than bang my head against the wall because I can't think of anything to do it would be very effective to stop, relax, clear my mind and then figure out what to next."